{"title":"Combination of Bandage Contact Lens and Autologous Serum Eye Drop for the Treatment of Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis.","authors":"Nina Asrini Noor","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S404164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S404164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To report clinical improvement after combined treatment of bandage contact lens and autologous serum eye drop in a patient with superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) complicated with dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Case report.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A 60-year-old woman was referred for unilateral chronic recurrent redness of the left eye not responding to topical steroids and cyclosporine 0.1% eye drop. She was diagnosed with SLK, which was complicated by the presence of DED and MGD. The patient was then commenced with autologous serum eye drop and fitted with silicone hydrogel contact lens in her left eye, and treated with intense pulsed light therapy for MGD in both eyes. Remission was seen Information Classification: General serum eye drop and bandage contact lens wear.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Long-term application of autologous serum eye drop combined with bandage contact lens can be used as an alternative treatment approach in SLK.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"75-80"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/f6/78/opto-15-75.PMC10124569.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9356500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catherine A Scheuer, Vicki L Barniak, Nitasha R Phatak, Marjorie J Rah, William Reindel
{"title":"Effect of Contact Lens Solutions in Stabilizing the Activity of Tear Lysozyme.","authors":"Catherine A Scheuer, Vicki L Barniak, Nitasha R Phatak, Marjorie J Rah, William Reindel","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S404261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S404261","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Interactions between tear proteins and the interfaces of contact lenses can be complex and can influence contact lens wear success. Tear proteins, including lysozyme, function to maintain the balance of ocular surface homeostasis, as evidenced by the effects of its conformation relative to stabilizing the tear film and its potential impact on corneal epithelial cells. Contact lens manufacturers include components in lens care and blister package solutions to help stabilize the tear film and preserve homeostasis. This in vitro study was performed to evaluate the ability of daily disposable contact lens package solutions to stabilize lysozyme and preserve its native conformation under denaturing conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Lysozyme was added to contact lens solutions sampled from kalifilcon A, etafilcon A, senofilcon A, narafilcon A, nelfilcon A, verofilcon A, delefilcon A, somofilcon A, and stenfilcon A blister packages, then mixed with the protein denaturant sodium lauryl sulfate. Lysozyme activity was evaluated by adding test solutions to a suspension of <i>Micrococcus luteus</i>. Native lysozyme lyses the <i>Micrococcus luteus</i> cell wall, which decreases suspension turbidity. Stabilization of lysozyme activity was determined by comparing suspension turbidity before and after exposure to test solutions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lysozyme stabilization was 90.7% for kalifilcon A solution, a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) compared to phosphate buffered saline (PBS, negative control). No significant improvement was observed with any other contact lens solution (all lysozyme stabilization < 5.00%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The representative tear protein lysozyme was significantly more stable in the novel kalifilcon A contact lens solution containing multiple moisturizers and osmoprotectants than in PBS or other daily disposable contact lens solutions. The lysozyme activity assay provides mechanistic evidence that the kalifilcon A contact lens solution can stabilize proteins under conditions that typically denature proteins, which may contribute to maintaining ocular surface homeostasis.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"119-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/41/3c/opto-15-119.PMC10187650.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9501287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Decision Behavior and Influential Factors of Spectacle Prescription for Schoolchildren in Taiwan.","authors":"Ching Yao Huang, Chih Ming Chen, Chao Kai Chang","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S424678","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S424678","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The prevalence of children myopia in Taiwan is among the highest in the world. The study aimed to understand the status of the final prescription of the spectacle prescribed by the Taiwan optometrists when they conducted the visual inspection of elementary school, middle school and high school students, and to evaluate the influencing factors of their decision-making behavior.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Among the attendants of the continuing education course activities held by optometrist associations in Taiwan, an anonymous questionnaire survey was given on the spot to optometrists who have passed the national examination. This study received 442 questionnaire surveys, including 174 optometrists and 268 assistant optometrists. The data were analyzed by using chi-square test in IBM SPSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There are statistically significant differences in the decision-making of spectacle prescription for myopia of -1.00D~-1.50D and -2.25D~-2.50D in the primary school stage between optometrists and assistant optometrists. There are also significant differences for myopia of -2.25D and above in the middle school students. By the time of high school, there are significant differences for myopia from -0.75D to -3.25D and above. The higher the grade, the greater the difference in the final prescription of the spectacles given. As for the judgment factors of the final prescription, only children among elementary school and junior high school show a statistically significant difference in professional judgment between optometrists and assistant optometrists. There is no significant difference in the judgment factors for high school children. Depending on the educational level of optometrists and assistant optometrists and their distribution area, the prescription decisions are also different.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The optometrists prefer to prescribe full correction for schoolchildren, while the assistant optometrists mostly prescribe under-correction in prescriptions for low-degree myopia and lower grades. Further investigation is needed to study its impact on children's visual health.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"159-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/91/12/opto-15-159.PMC10404432.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9956827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ocular Protection Practice and Associated Factors Among Ethiopian Welders: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Yared Ayelign Belete, Natnael Lakachew Assefa, Melkamu Temeselew Tegegn","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S424522","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S424522","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Work-related ocular injury is a global public health problem, particularly among welders and is reduced through proper ocular protection practice. No previous studies have explored ocular protection practice and associated factors among welders in Ethiopia or in the study area.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess the proportion of ocular protection practice and associated factors among welders in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 welders in Gondar city, selected using systematic random sampling with an interval of 2, from July 6 to 23, 2021. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and an observational checklist. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ocular protection practice and association was expressed using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Variables with a P-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 396 participated welders, 81.8% worked without job training, and 33.1% had faced ocular injury. Nearly 86% of welders had access to personal protective eyewear but their knowledge and attitude towards personal protective eyewear were 48.2% (95% CI: 44.8, 51.4) and 61.4% (95% CI: 57.6, 64.7), respectively. The proportion of a good-level of ocular protection practice was 56.8% (95% CI: 52.8, 61.9). Being gas welder (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.26, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.53), work experience (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.21), job training (AOR = 4.90, 95% CI: 2.32, 10.35), welders rated the cost of personal protective eyewear as fair (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.26, 4.20) and history ocular injury (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.40, 6.97) were positively associated with a good-level proportion of ocular protection practice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study found that the proportion of a good-level of ocular protection practice of welders was fair. Being gas welder, job training, work experience, history of ocular injury and welders rated the cost of personal protective eyewear as fair were significantly associated with a good-level of ocular protection practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"175-184"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/69/a4/opto-15-175.PMC10503522.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10299475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrew D Pucker, Chris Lievens, Gerald McGwin, Quentin X Franklin, Amy Logan, Gregory S Wolfe
{"title":"Quality of Life in Digital Device Users Who are Treated with Systane Hydration PF.","authors":"Andrew D Pucker, Chris Lievens, Gerald McGwin, Quentin X Franklin, Amy Logan, Gregory S Wolfe","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S398496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S398496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To understand the impact of Systane Hydration PF on dryness symptoms and quality of life in digital device users and to determine if participants prefer either the unit-dose or multi-dose dispensing system of Systane Hydration PF.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This 2-week, three visit study recruited regular digital device users. Participants were required to score ≤80 on the Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Life (IDEEL) Quality of Life (QoL) Work domain and between 13 and 32 on the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Participants were randomized to either Systane Hydration PF unit-dose or multi-dose for 1 week and switched to the alternative dosing system for the second week. Participations were evaluated by completing the full IDEEL-QoL module and OSDI questionnaire at each visit. Likert surveys were completed to probe dispensing system preferences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty participants with a mean ± SD age of 28.6 ± 12.0 years (70% female) were recruited. Participants had significant improvements in all three IDEEL-QoL domains as well as in OSDI scores (all p < 0.0001). Participants had similar preferences for the two dispensing systems, though they were more likely to indicate that they thought that the multi-dose bottle was more environmentally friendly than the unit-dose vials.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Digital device users with dry eye symptoms had meaningful improvements in eye comfort and quality of life scores after being treated with Systane Hydration PF for 2 weeks. Participants did not have a clear dispensing system preference suggesting that the best dispensing system may depend on the patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"45-54"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/13/c1/opto-15-45.PMC10007863.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9112832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ioanna Mylona, Mikes N Glynatsis, Georgios D Floros, Stylianos Kandarakis
{"title":"Spotlight on Digital Eye Strain.","authors":"Ioanna Mylona, Mikes N Glynatsis, Georgios D Floros, Stylianos Kandarakis","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S389114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S389114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Digital Eye Strain (DES) is a clinical syndrome manifested with visual disturbances and/or ophthalmic dysfunction related to the usage of screen-enabled digital equipment. This term is gradually replacing the older term computer vision syndrome (CVS) that focused on the same symptoms found on personal computer users. DES is encountered more frequently during the past years due to the explosive increase in the usage of digital devices and subsequent increase in time in front of any screens. It presents with a series of atypical symptoms and signs stemming from asthenopia, dry eye syndrome, preexisting untreated vision issues and poor screen ergonomics. This review summarizes research data to date to determine whether the concept of DES has been conclusively defined and demarcated as a separate entity and if sufficient guidance is offered on professionals and the lay public. The maturity of the field, grouping of symptoms, examination techniques, treatment and prevention modalities are summarily presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"29-36"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/84/5a/opto-15-29.PMC9983433.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9395948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lucas E Hepler, Samuel J Martin, Kennedy Fuglseth, Laney Cuddihee, Peter Giannulis, Robert W Arnold
{"title":"Acuity Comparison Methods via Timed Test-Retest Precision of Matching-Card e-ETDRS Compared to PDI Check in Treated Amblyopes and Superb Normals.","authors":"Lucas E Hepler, Samuel J Martin, Kennedy Fuglseth, Laney Cuddihee, Peter Giannulis, Robert W Arnold","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S409358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S409358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Existing and emerging visual acuity methods like dynamic and dichoptic presentation, preferential looking and eye tracking promise to afford better and earlier assessment in children with and without amblyopia so we propose methods needed to easily evaluate and compare their metrics.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Patients older than 8 years with treated amblyopia and superb vision (logMAR -0.1 to -0.3) normals performed timed, patched eETDRS with Sloan matching card at 3.00 m and PDI Check dichoptic near rivalry dynamic test to demonstrate test re-Test and compared disparate acuity with intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland Altman 95% limits of agreement (LOA) to generate a simple method of qualifying acuity test matching.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>26 amblyopic patients and 11 superb-vision normals performed eETDRS retest, PDI Check retest and combined ICC of 0.98, 0.60 and 0.27, respectively, and Bland Altman LOA of 0.24, 2.06 and 2.28 logMAR. The time to test one eye with eETDRS had median (interquartile range; IQR) duration of 280 (205 to 346) seconds, while the PDI Check autostereoscopic dichoptic for both eyes only took 39 (30 to 47) seconds. Optimum ICC and LOA for visual acuity comparison should be >0.95 and <0.3 logMAR, whereas \"good\" ICC and should be 0.75-0.89 ICC and 1.0-1.49 logMAR LOA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Superb vision subjects (logMAR < -0.1) and treated amblyopic patients confirmed optimum comparable eETDRS, and fair test re-Test PDI Check but suppression on near dichoptic testing confirmed disparity compared to optimized eETDRS distance acuity.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"81-95"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7e/0e/opto-15-81.PMC10163880.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9497757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors Affecting Unmet Need for Presbyopia Correction Among School Teachers in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia.","authors":"Amsalu Belete Yalew, Haile Woretaw Alemu, Abiy Maru Alemayehu","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S411708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S411708","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Uncorrected presbyopia is the leading cause of near visual impairment among working-age adults in the world. In Ethiopia, there was limited evidence on the magnitude of uncorrected presbyopia and its associated factors among school teachers. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of untreated presbyopia and its associated factors among school teachers in Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 448 school teachers at Debre Tabor town using a simple random sampling technique. The data were collected using a face-to-face interview and a comprehensive ocular examination. A binary multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify associated factors of the uncorrected presbyopia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Generally, the prevalence of uncorrected presbyopia among school teachers was 63.62% (95% CI: 59.2-67.9). Age (35-45) (AOR: 4.56, 95% CI: 1.74, 11.91), female gender (AOR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.75, 5.26), unaware of presbyopia (AOR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.30, 4.25), unaware of refraction site (AOR: 4.21, 95% CI: 2.42, 7.33), no eye checkup history (AOR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.52, 5.01), and no family history of spectacle use (AOR: 2.61, 95% 4.67) were significantly associated with uncorrected presbyopia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In the current study, the magnitude of uncorrected presbyopia was high. Age below 45 years, female gender, lack of awareness of presbyopia and refraction site, lack of history of eye checkups, and family spectacle use were significantly associated with uncorrected presbyopia. The early correction of presbyopia, health education on presbyopia, and the provision of affordable spectacle corrections for school teachers were recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"129-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/45/0a/opto-15-129.PMC10281454.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10088502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Enzo Maria Vingolo, Carmelo Chines, Cesare Tanassi, Angel Charte, Lucio Cecchinello, Mauro Campigotto
{"title":"Potential Role of Biofeedback Visual Training in High-Speed Motorbike Drivers.","authors":"Enzo Maria Vingolo, Carmelo Chines, Cesare Tanassi, Angel Charte, Lucio Cecchinello, Mauro Campigotto","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S418679","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S418679","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>In several sports, appropriate training strategies remain a challenge for athletes and coaches, with the goal of improving performance. Extensive research has proposed several technical tools for obtaining parametric evaluations before competition in real life. This study aimed to assess whether some retinal performances might be improved using psychophysical techniques in health professionals involved in motorcycle sports (FIM MotoE).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Two MotoE drivers were screened at baseline using complete ophthalmological examinations and evaluation of retinal reaction times, followed by a biofeedback training program. After 4 months of training, the subjects underwent a control visit using the same protocol as the baseline.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Central reaction time was shorter for 75% of drivers, with a consistent reduction (mean value of 20%). The peripheral reaction time showed an increasing trend after visual training. In both drivers, fixation stability improved dramatically (in 30% increments).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The potential role of advanced technology was applied to high-speed drivers. Our results may be due to an attentional shift from the peripheral retina to the central retina during training. In our opinion, training potentiates the most useful pathways at the expense of less involved retinal and cortical areas, thus improving driving abilities and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"185-190"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/b6/94/opto-15-185.PMC10503555.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10307531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ngozika Ezinne, Haile W Alemu, Tarekegn Cheklie, Kingsley Ekemiri, Ryan Mohammed, Sakeem James
{"title":"High Prevalence of Symptomatic Dry Eye Disease Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.","authors":"Ngozika Ezinne, Haile W Alemu, Tarekegn Cheklie, Kingsley Ekemiri, Ryan Mohammed, Sakeem James","doi":"10.2147/OPTO.S396135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S396135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Covid-19 pandemic lockdown obligated higher education students to attend online courses, leading to prolonged exposure to digital displays. Excessive time on digital devices could be a risk factor for ocular problems, including symptomatic dry eye. There are limited evidences to show the magnitude of symptomatic dry eye disease and its associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to fill this gap, among university students in Trinidad and Tobago.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students attending the University of West Indies, Saint Augustine Campus from October 2020 to April 2021. The standardized ocular surface disease index questionnaire, descriptive statics and binary logistic regression were used to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dry eye diseases. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four hundred (96.3%) participants completed the questionnaire. Among all, 64.8% were female and 50.5% were east Indians. About 48% were using visual display units for average of 10-15 hours/day. The prevalence of symptomatic dry eye disease was 84.3% (95% CI = 80.8-87.5%) with OSDI score ≥13. Lack of education about dry eye 2.69 (95% CI: 1.41-5.13), use of the reading mode of computer 3.92 (95% CI: 1.57-9.80), refractive error 3.20 (95% CI: 1.66-6.20), previous systemic medications 2.80 (95% CI: 1.15-6.81), and average hours of visual display unit use/day (p<0.001) were significantly associated with symptomatic dry eye disease.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Symptomatic dry eye disease was a prominent problem among students at the University of West Indies. Average of >4 hours of visual display unit use/day, refractive error, positive history of systemic medication, lack of education about dry eye, and using computers in reading mode were associated factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":43701,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Optometry","volume":"15 ","pages":"37-43"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/05/1b/opto-15-37.PMC9990450.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9140875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}